(SB) Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

I think the whole Aric thing is a bit overblown, it’s the same hitting style that’s been in place since Tim got here. That tells me he’s coaching what Tim wants. So if you don’t like our batting approach, blame Tim. And then blame him for the 12 WCWS appearances too.

Jmo.

 

51

 

I only had 49 and that included 6 away games but I was able to keep my Executive Platinum status with AA!

As far as Aric, he is a great guy just like Dave Boos in VB. Dave is still unemployed, does that tell you anything?

 

lol...knew I'd hear from you given your deep affection for Aric.

 

Still hopeful we see another addition or 2 based solely on roster size and I hope nobody reclassifies to shore up the roster. Hope to never see that again. What I do hope to see next year is the defense return to the top of the SEC. It seemed like every time an error was made or a play was there to be made but wasn’t, the other team followed up with a 3 run bomb. And on that note, we need a fully healthy and improved Rothrock, Brown, and Oxley. The offense is not going to be as good next year as it has been and the pitching and defense both need to return to the top of the SEC where they belong.

 

Today I got a similar Verizon pop-up “AD” while catching up on the SB, here on the “Ongoing UF Softball Commentary”. I could not stop the pop-up until I closed out the window and reloaded it. I am just agreeing the “connection” with “johnny-cakes” and reporting the connection to this site and a similar “pop-up” to his Cox AD.

 

As I have said before I know nothing but this current roster is at 17 and Aric Thomas is the recruiting coordinator. Just sayin.

 

I am throwing in Miller as improved and the introduction of Sparkman and Stevens will make the Gator staff solid. I am particularly looking forward to the improved and strong staff. I am hoping Coach Stephanie's magic as a coach of All-Americans will kick in. I also think that a healthy Rothrock and Oxley will give the Gators a few more wins. Of course, Brown will again be dynamic and gritty closer.
haha..Rick calls me the eternal optimist ...I won't deny it.

 

My fingernails are in for a tough time as it looks like some nail biters are coming

 

2025 recruiting wasn't very good and it was expected with team loaded with freshman and sophomore studs. 2026 recruiting was excellent, assuming they all stick with the money that is being thrown at them. Up to now our recruiting has generally been good to excellent. That may change now that money is the key and not the usual factors.

 

Korbe is on fire. 2-3 tonight with a double a home run and three runs scored. She's hitting .381 in her first pro season. Love this woman.

 

Korbie is the prime example of what happens when studying does not get in the way!! Med school starts in Sept, she will kill it there also!

 

Even the best students can feel the pressure of the classroom and how it can effect other aspects of their lives. It happens.

 

Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell wants to save college sports

Can Cody Campbell, one of the deep pockets of Texas Tech NIL donors contributing to its NIL, save College sports from itself. Florida booster Gary Condron is quoted in the article. “NIL space for boosters is like throwing money into a deep, dark hole with little to no return on the investment. “Nobody likes this. Not athletic directors, not coaches, not boosters. The only ones who like it are the players, and the attorneys and agents.” This is an interesting read, addressing the NIL landscape in college sports. Enjoy!

 

Condron has been carrying us...and only a matter of time before he has had enough

 

A month ago I was getting a similar pop-up for Spectrum. Happily, it went and stayed away.

 

SOME OPINIONS AND RAMBLINGS
1. Does anyone share my opinion that Ava Brown could be utilized exactly like Lauren Haeger? It seems to my misguided self, in 2024, she didn’t get opportunities that could have rested Rothrock. In 2025, it didn’t seem her pitching role was ever defined. Also, why switch her out of first base, reversing roles with Reagan Walsh? This lady has fire. I wouldn’t be surprised if her psyche and performance was adversely affected by her diminished role.
2. How about too many pitchers? 2 juniors, 1 sophomore and 1 freshman should be plenty to get us back to the continuity we had from 2006-18. I see nothing wrong with honoring scholarships but why waste innings on players we won’t (or shouldn’t) use down the stretch. I hope the Grad experiment is over.
3. I took a look at our pitchers from 2006-18 and found we signed 13 recruits. We had one carryover from 2005. Of the recruits, 3 left the program after 1-2 years. One, Gammel, transitioned to UT and Chronister was not a starter. The remaining 8, carried the load for 13 years and with the exception of one, had an ERA of 1.91 or under. Lauren Haeger, one of the best in my opinion, had a 2.20. The results of the 14 recruits from 2019-2025, even after dismissing the outliers, again in my opinion, was not satisfactory but maybe not as bad as it seems in relation to what we might expect in 2026. We have been very unlucky with the injuries to Hightower, Rothrock and Oxley. At the same time, the game has seemed to change. Small ball has given way to long ball. Batters are stronger and hitting the ball farther. The field are too small. Higher ERA’s are the norm.
If we can keep our pitchers healthy, provide more consistent run support and, perhaps, make better utilization and in-game decisions, 2026 could be our best in years, pitching-wise.
4. The big question-OFFENSE. I am sure CTW would have found a way to keep 4 out of the 5 players we lost to the portal if he didn’t think he could improve the squad. Replacing Otis, Falby, Walsh and Williams will not be easy. Don’t write off 2026 as a “rebuilding year”, yet. The Gators under CTW has found and will find a way to win.
Go Gators

 

Willum, replacing your first 3 will be hard. Replcing yout fourth will not. She was an error waiting to happen and a SO with runners on base. If you check her stats, I think you will find that most of her HRs were solo shots and very few of her RBIs came with runners in scoring position with 2 outs.

 

Aw, crap! I thought I had you this year, Scrappy.
I only made 50 games -- all KSP, all games in Florida, and the Auburn / LSU series.
Dang, you get the most games attended award again this year -- a three-peat.
Don't get too complacent -- I'm gunning for you next year!

You will always be the GOAT for miles traveled.

 

I thought Sandy won it last year.